Janek starts session with personal privlege speech

Sen. Kyle Janek plans to make a personal privilege speech, in lieu of a filibuster – for now.

He plans to lay out his case for why the state should “properly fund” indigent health care at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston’s hospital and other similar institutions throughout the state.

But that doesn’t mean he won’t filibuster the budget before the day is over, he told me before heading to the floor.

“The decision I have to make between now and this evening, is whether this issue, in my own little corner of the state, is worth crashing the budget and the session for,” said Janek, R-Houston.

His filibuster threat delayed a vote on the budget until today. The budget is the only measure lawmakers must pass. Waiting until shortly before Monday’s adjournment to consider it makes it vulnerable to being killed if an opponent talks it to death.

Janek also said he doesn’t want the House insurgency to be a factor in his deliberations.

“The dilemma I face is that I’m not sure that I should use the happenstance that the budget is coming up this late, with a deadline looming and turmoil in the House, to help out a few medical institutions in the state,” said Janek, an anesthesiologist who is used to being on his feet for long stretches at a time.

“I don’t want to look like I’m being petty and throwing a temper tantrum.”